Re: DIY light source for 10X10" enlarger.

On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:11:47 -0500, jjs wrote:

> "Thor Lancelot Simon" <tls@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:ftiqql$q6d$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
>> A fluorescent light source of some kind -- a "cold light" source --
>> will give you the most light for the least power (and heat) unless you
>> really want to use a *lot* of white LEDs.  I'm not sure you can get
>> enough output from a 10x10 grid of LEDs you assemble yourself to give
>> decent enlarging times with a 10x10 negative, and I am also skeptical
>> that it will be as even as you'd get with an array of fluorescent
>> tubes.
> 
> This is great, Thor. I appreciate your input.
> 
> Are these flourescent sources in round tubes? Or would it be a line of
> short tubes? And I gather that they would be left on all the time and
> I'd use the lens shutter, correct?

JJS,

IIRC, one of the Ansel Adams Photo Series books from years ago had 
detailed instructions on how Adams built a diffusion head light source 
for a horizontal enlarger made from a salvaged 8x10 camera.  It used an 
array of small incandescent bulbs, opal glass for diffusion, and a vacuum 
cleaner for heat removal.  Very simple.

I adapted the design to a vertical 4x5 enlarger, using below-the-lens VC 
filters.  Worked quite well, but when I could afford it, I replaced it 
with an Aristo head color balanced for VC paper.

Stef